GENERAL
Illegal imports could destroy local avo industry JAN GREYLING
SAAGA and the local avocado industry support the legal importation of avocado fruit from Tanzania.
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OUTH AFRICA AND Tanzania are both members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and therefore officially engage on phytosanitary issues / risks with trade partners according to the rights and obligations of the WTO SPS Agreement and the IPPC, says Subtrop CEO, Derek Donkin. Over the past months, SAAGA has participated in a process to finalise a South African phytosanitary import protocol for fresh avocado fruit from Tanzania. However, the new protocol for the importation of avocados from Tanzania has not yet been finalised, says Clive Garrett, Chairperson of SAAGA. He confirms that the South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and the Tanzanian governments are working hard to do things correctly. This confirms that rejection of the Tanzanian consignment at the Beit Bridge border post on 19 February 2021was not based on claims that South Africa is protecting the local industry without concern about the Tanzanian growers. "If you take shortcuts, which have been taken here, by bringing in fruit that has the possibility of bringing in pests, you are illegal. We know exactly why this consignment has been intercepted and destroyed," says Garrett. "These avocados have been brought into the country without the necessary phytosanitary certificates. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. In this case, I think the supplier knew what is expected of them, but they took a chance and did not get away with it." Let’s do it legally Subtrop, who manages the affairs of SAAGA, recorded the process leading up to the interception and confiscation of between 40 and 56 tons of avocados from a Tanzanian grower: 20 July 2020: DALRRD forwarded Subtrop a draft phytosanitary work plan for the import of fresh avocado fruit from Tanzania for inputs and comments. 29 July 2020: Comments and inputs from Subtrop were submitted to DALRRD. August 2020: A SAAGA member who processes avocados contacted Subtrop regarding the possibility of importing avocados from Tanzania for processing. Donkin contacted the Acting Director of Plant Health at DALRRD, who said that it should be possible to arrange a special import permit for the fruit to be processed. Such a permit would include a specific procedure for disposing of waste. Similar permits for the import of mangoes from other African countries for processing had been issued in the past.
Over the past months, SAAGA has participated in a process to finalise a South African phytosanitary import protocol for fresh avocado fruit from Tanzania.
Donkin referred the SAAGA member who contacted him to the Fresh Produce Importers’ Association (FPIA) to assist with import matters. The member joined the FPIA to facilitate the process to obtain an import permit for processing. 23 November 2020: The FPIA approached Subtrop to find support for the finalisation of the import protocols for fresh avocado fruit, without the customary physical verification visit by DALRRD to the exporting country, due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions. “A virtual verification inspection would therefore expedite the finalisation of the import protocols,” says Donkin. Subtrop supported this proposal since hard, green avocado fruit, without false codling moth (FCM) or other damage, constitute a low phytosanitary risk regarding Bactrocera dorsalis which is the main phytosanitary pest of concern. Phytosanitary measures are necessary to mitigate the risk of importing avocado fruit which is not hard, green, and free of FCM or other damage. It is important to note that Bactrocera dorsalis is not present in all regions of South Africa. Consequently, phytosanitary measures for this pest are necessary to protect fruit production in areas free of this pest and safeguard exports of fruit from these areas to certain markets – the same reason why South African growers are required to have removal permits when moving avocados out of an area where Bactrocera dorsalis occurs. 15 December 2020: After discussions with relevant DALRRD officials, the FPIA emailed DALRRD recommending that DALRRD finalise the protocol for the import of Tanzanian avocados without a physical verification visit to Tanzania due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions. This email clearly stated that there was an out-of-season shortage of avocados in South Africa and that the import of avocados from Tanzania would be beneficial. TO PAGE 26
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MARCH • APRIL 2021 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT
